Trauma Recovery

A traumatic experience is extremely distressing, frightening, and/or shocking. The ordinary response to it is to banish it from consciousness. However, the experience refuses to be buried, and as a result, a person often feels lost, numb, scattered, anxious, and/or scared, and their trust in people and the world is shattered. Remembering and talking about the horrific event with a safe and trusting person is often required for healing, but far too often, survivors are told to keep the incident a secret or are afraid they will relive the moment and get stuck there if they talk about the incident. Thus, they withdraw from the world and avoid anything that stimulates memories of the traumatic event. They may start blaming themselves, feeling depressed, or developing unhealthy ways to manage their distressing symptoms (ie. drugs, alcohol). For the survivor, this is the best way they know how to cope.

What survivors often don’t know is that they don’t have to live like this for the rest of their lives. There is hope! They can heal from the experience and move forward to live a fulfilled life.

If you would like to enter therapy to help you heal from a traumatic experience, I would first like to commend you for your courage. I know that the road to recovery isn’t always going to be easy, but if you can tolerate the discomfort for a short time (with the help of your therapist), you will reap the long-term benefits. Second, make sure you chose a therapist that you feel safe with and can trust. It will make it easier to open up and talk about your experiences. Here are some of the ways that I can help you.

• Establish safety
• Reduce avoidance behaviors and develop effective coping strategies
• Learn to regulate your affect
• Learn relaxation techniques
• Restore connections with others
• Regain self-confidence

Lastly, let me leave you with this poem about trauma recovery entitled, “Autobiography in Five Chapters” by Portia Nelson.

I walk down the street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I am lost...I am hopeless.
It isn't my fault.
It takes forever to find a way out.

I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I pretend I don’t see it.
I fall in again.
I can't believe I'm in the same place.
But it isn't my fault.
It still takes a long time to get out.

I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I see it is there.
I still fall in...it's a habit.
My eyes are open.
I know where I am.
It is my fault.
I get out immediately.

I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I walk around it.

I walk down another street.

I have worked with clients who have been traumatized and have seen them progress through these phases. There is hope!

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